(Ottawa) Determined to make the weapons buyback program a reality, and faced with Canada Post’s refusal to collaborate, the government is looking for new partners to collect and transport banned weapons, said Justin Trudeau.
The Prime Minister indirectly confirmed on Tuesday the Radio-Canada report surrounding the refusal of the state corporation to ensure the recovery of weapons which have been prohibited since 2020.
“We are looking at and working with different partners, including different mail services, different institutions,” he noted on the sidelines of a budget announcement in Saskatoon.
We must “ensure that these people who have these weapons are compensated”, because “they are perhaps very impatient” to “buy a new hunting rifle or a perfectly legal weapon”, he argued. .
In the office of the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Jean-Yves Duclos, we assured that the federal government was staying the course on the launch of the Military-Type Firearms Buyback Program.
“All options are on the table, to find the most effective and safest options for the program,” he said in an email.
“Let’s be clear: these are weapons made to kill people. The safety and security of Canadians will always be our top priority,” it added.
According to information from Radio-Canada, security reasons are behind Canada Post’s refusal to collect and transport these weapons.
There are fears of conflicts between employees and firearms owners, particularly those who contest the confiscation of their weapons, according to the public broadcaster.
The state company did not want to provide explanations on Tuesday. “We will not comment at this time,” we said in an email.
For her part, the president of the Union of Postal Workers (STPP) confirmed that security concerns were involved.
“We are ready to take on new tasks, but the health and safety of our members comes first,” said STPP National President Jan Simpson.
The PolySeSouvient group said it was “deeply disappointed” with the refusal from Canada Post, which nevertheless has experience in secure transportation, including the delivery of firearms, we note.
“Consequently, it is unacceptable that Canada Post does not provide its expertise to the federal government,” lamented spokesperson Nathalie Provost in a press release.
The Liberals promised a prohibited weapons buyback program during the 2019 and 2021 election campaigns.
They hope that it will be in force before the end of their mandate, scheduled for 2025.